OrdinanceAdministrative Law
Traffic Ordinance [New Version]
פקודת התעבורה [נוסח חדש]
Published: 1961-08-01Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-06-14 · Last amended 2026-07-28✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.
This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.
Chapter III: Exemption
Statutory Exemptions§
17.
(a)The following are exempt from registration fees and vehicle licence fees under this Ordinance:
(1)an ambulance of Magen David Adom;
(2)a vehicle belonging to one of the following, or to a representative or officer thereof who are foreign nationals and are not engaged in any other business or profession:
(a)the United Nations;
(b)a representation of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
(c)a representation of another international organisation – in accordance with an Order by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Status of International Organisations Law, 5741-1980;
(3)a vehicle of a diplomatic or consular representation of a foreign state, or of an employee or officer of such a representation who are foreign nationals and are not engaged in any other business or profession, where that state grants Israel equivalent exemptions;
(4)a tractor used solely for agricultural purposes.
(b)Any exemption from a registration fee or a vehicle licence fee granted otherwise than by virtue of this Ordinance is void.
Power to Exempt§
18.
The Minister may, by Regulations, exempt, in prescribed circumstances, a vehicle owner from the obligation of registration and from the obligation of a vehicle licence under section 2, or from a registration fee or a licence fee, in whole or in part, and may direct the return of a licence fee that has been paid, in whole or in part.
Exemption with Approval of the Finance Committee§
19.
The Minister may, by Regulations and with the approval of the Finance Committee of the Knesset, exempt, subject to such conditions as the Minister shall prescribe –
(1)categories of persons – from a driving licence fee, in whole or in part;
(2)a vehicle belonging to a category of persons or to a particular authority, or used in certain functions – from a registration fee and a vehicle licence fee, in whole or in part.
Vehicles of the Israel Defence Forces and Israel Police and Their Drivers§
20.
(a)A vehicle of the Israel Defence Forces or of the Israel Police is not required to be registered or to hold a vehicle licence under this Ordinance; however, it is required to bear an identification mark as directed by the licensing authority.
(b)A soldier or police officer holding a valid driving licence issued by the Israel Defence Forces or by the Israel Police is not required to hold a driving licence under this Ordinance while driving a vehicle of the Israel Defence Forces or of the Israel Police, as the case may be; a police officer holding a valid driving licence issued by the Israel Police and also a vehicle examiner's certificate issued by the Israel Police shall be regarded as if the officer held a driving licence under this Ordinance while lawfully examining a motor vehicle of any type.
(b1)A police officer holding a valid driving licence issued by the Israel Police shall be regarded as if the officer held a driving licence under this Ordinance while driving a vehicle that is not a vehicle of the Israel Police for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Ordinance and the Regulations, including by-laws made thereunder, or for the purpose of fulfilling the officer's duties as a police officer under another enactment, if the circumstances so require.
(c)Section 15 shall not apply to a driving school of the Israel Defence Forces or of the Israel Police, and section 16 shall not apply to a person engaged in driving instruction at such a school.
Learner Driver§
21.
A person driving a motor vehicle while learning to drive in accordance with rules prescribed in Regulations and accompanied by a teacher or instructor, or while undergoing a driving examination accompanied by an examiner appointed by the licensing authority, does not require a driving licence.
Bicycles and Tricycles§
22.
Bicycles and tricycles whose owners are not residents of the area of a municipality or local council are exempt from a licence and from registration.
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Contact Us →Chapter IV: Adjudication and Procedure
23.§
(Repealed — תיקון מס' 30, 1992)
24.§
(Repealed — תיקון מס' 4, 1966)
Jurisdiction of a Traffic Judge§
25.
(a)A person appointed as a traffic judge for the purposes of this Ordinance is competent to try the following:
(1)traffic offences;
(2)offences under sections 2, 17, 39, 40, 41 and 46 of the Insurance Ordinance, and under section 48 of that Ordinance to the extent that it relates to the offences enumerated in this paragraph;
(3)offences under the Commodities and Services Supervision Law, 5718-1957, and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, relating to traffic and vehicles;
(4)offences under the Law for the Amendment of Criminal Laws (Use of a Vehicle without Authorisation), 5724-1964;
(5)offences under the Abatement of Nuisances Law, 5721-1961, and the Regulations thereunder, if the offences relate to vehicles;
(6)an offence under section 304 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977, committed in the course of using a vehicle;
(7)offences under the Transport Services Law, 5757-1997;
(8)an offence under section 23(b)(5) of the Motorsport Law, 5766-2005;
(9)offences under the Clean Air Law, 5768-2008, if the offences relate to a motor vehicle;
(10)offences under the Vehicle Industry Licensing of Services and Professions Law, 5776-2016;
(11)offences under sections 59f and 59r of the Ports Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971;
(12)an appeal against a decision of a traffic court under section 24 of the Administrative Traffic Violations Law.
(b)(Repealed).
(c)Nothing in the provisions of this section shall derogate from the jurisdiction of judges who are not traffic judges to try traffic offences or appeals against decisions of a traffic court under section 24 of the Administrative Traffic Violations Law.
(d)In respect of the offences enumerated in subsection (a)(1) to (10), in respect of an appeal against traffic violations as referred to in subsection (a)(11) and in respect of the traffic judge's other powers under this Ordinance, a traffic judge shall have the same standing as a judge of a Magistrate's Court and shall have all the powers vested in a judge of a Magistrate's Court.
Appointment of Traffic Judges§
26.
(a)A person qualified to be appointed as a judge of a Magistrate's Court under section 4 of the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984 (hereinafter – the Courts Law), is qualified to be appointed as a traffic judge.
(b)(Repealed).
(c)In a Magistrate's Court in which there is more than one traffic judge, the Minister of Justice may, with the consent of the President of the Supreme Court, appoint a traffic judge to be a deputy president of the Magistrate's Court for traffic matters.
(d)Subject to the provisions of this section, the provisions of the Courts Law applicable to the appointment and service of a judge of a Magistrate's Court or of a deputy president of a Magistrate's Court, as the case may be, shall apply to the appointment of a traffic judge and the appointment of a deputy president of a Magistrate's Court for traffic matters, and to their service.
(e)A registrar of a court who has commenced proceedings and has been appointed a traffic judge shall be competent to complete the proceedings within three months from the day of such appointment.
Written Statement and Examiner's Report§
27.
(a)A court or tribunal trying a traffic offence or a traffic violation may, in respect of the offence or violation, admit as evidence –
(1)a written statement by a police officer or by a person duly authorised to make such a statement, or an examiner's report of the Israel Police, if these were made in the performance of the maker's duties;
(2)a written statement by a person who was present at the time of the commission of an offence from among those enumerated in the Fourth Schedule, if the statement was made before or by a police officer and was confirmed by the signature of the person giving the statement;
provided that such a statement or examiner's report was made as close as possible to the time of the occurrence of the offence.
(b)A statement and an examiner's report under this section shall indicate the date of their making and the date of the occurrence of the offence, and the signature of an examiner shall be authenticated by a police officer of the rank of inspector and above, all in accordance with a form prescribed in Regulations.
(c)A written statement and an examiner's report given under this section shall have the same standing as testimony for the purposes of section 237 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977.
(d)Nothing in the provisions of this section shall derogate from the power of the court to order that the maker of a statement or an examiner's report be examined before the court, and the court shall accede to a request by a party to so order; if a party is not represented by an advocate, the court shall inform the party of the right to summon for examination the maker of a statement or an examiner's report; the court may impose the costs of the examination on the applicant if it is satisfied that the application was made for the purpose of vexation; the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to legal proceedings under the Administrative Traffic Violations Law.
(e)Nothing in the provisions of this section shall derogate from the provisions of any law conferring upon a public servant a privilege from giving testimony, or from any provision regarding proof of a fact by a public servant's certificate, or from any law disqualifying or restricting the admissibility of such a certificate as evidence.
Photograph of Vehicle as Admissible Evidence§
27a.
(a)A photograph taken in a manner prescribed in Regulations, by a camera operated automatically or by a police officer, shall be admissible evidence in any legal proceeding in respect of –
(1)the registration number of the photographed vehicle appearing on the identification plate of the vehicle in the photograph;
(2)the location of the vehicle at the time of the photograph;
(3)the presence of the vehicle at the location referred to in paragraph (2), or its travel there, in contravention of the sign "stop" or otherwise in contravention of the provisions of this Ordinance or the Regulations made thereunder;
(4)the time during which the photographed vehicle was present at the location referred to in paragraph (2), as indicated in or on the photograph, if so indicated, all as shall be prescribed in Regulations;
(5)the speed of travel of the vehicle;
(6)the number of passengers in the vehicle;
provided that it has been proved that the photograph submitted is a reliable copy of the photograph stored on the film, and that from the moment the photograph was taken until it was submitted to the court or tribunal no action was taken thereon that could alter any of its details.
(b)The Minister of Justice shall prescribe in Regulations –
(1)the manner of storing, maintaining and handling cameras and films;
(2)the inspection and determination of the proper functioning of cameras;
(3)the manner of submitting to the court photographs taken as referred to in this section.
(c)(Repealed).
(d)In this section, "film" – including an electronic device, chip or any other means intended for the storage of visual information, verbal information, numerical information or other information, produced by a camera.
Enforcement of Traffic Offences and Traffic Violations by Local Authorities by means of Cameras§
27a1.
(a)Where a local authority, the head of a local authority or an employee of a local authority has been appointed as a local traffic signage authority in respect of a road, the local authority may carry out the actions set out below on that road, or on an urban road within the local authority's jurisdiction in respect of which another body has been appointed as a local traffic signage authority:
(1)to install, operate and maintain cameras, for the purpose of documenting traffic offences and traffic violations listed in the Eleventh Schedule (in this section – offences);
(2)to produce photographs of events documented by the cameras referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose referred to in that paragraph (in this section – cameras), which attest to the commission of offences.
(a1)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), in respect of roads listed in the Twelfth Schedule in respect of which another body has been appointed as a local traffic signage authority and which are situated within the jurisdiction of a particular local authority, that local authority may carry out the actions set out in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) in respect of an offence or traffic violation listed in item 1 of the Eleventh Schedule; the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Internal Security, may amend the Twelfth Schedule, adding to or removing from it additional roads as aforesaid.
(b)An employee of the local authority who has been authorised to do so as referred to in section 228(b) of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, may serve a fine payment notice as referred to in section 228 of that Law, if satisfied on the basis of a photograph as referred to in subsection (a)(2) that a person has committed an offence.
(b1)Where the offence is a traffic violation, an employee of the local authority who has been authorised to do so as referred to in subsection (b) may serve a notice of a decision to impose a fine within the meaning of section 4(a) of the Administrative Traffic Violations Law in respect of the traffic violation, if the employee had reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of a photograph as referred to in subsection (a)(2), that a person committed the violation as aforesaid, and all in accordance with the provisions under that Law.
(c)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (b1), in respect of an offence listed in item 1 of the Eleventh Schedule, an employee of the local authority shall not serve a fine payment notice as referred to in subsection (b) on a person who is entitled by law to travel in a lane designated and marked by a sign pursuant to this Ordinance as a public transport lane, including a person in respect of whose vehicle a disability tag has been issued as set out in the Ninth Schedule.
(d)A photograph produced pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall display the data listed in section 27a(a), all or some of them, and the sign relating to the documented offence, as required to prove the commission of the offence.
(e)A photograph taken pursuant to this section shall not be viewable and shall not be stored, except in a manner that does not lead to the identification of passengers in the photographed vehicle or other passers-by.
(f)The database containing the photographs and the reports produced from them shall not be connected to any other database at the local authority, except to the extent required for the implementation of the provisions of this section.
(g)The operation of the cameras, the storage of information documented in the photographs and the production of the photographs and reports, pursuant to this section, shall be carried out in a manner that reduces information security risks.
(h)The Director General of a municipality or the person fulfilling a corresponding role in a municipality or local council, as the case may be, or a person authorised by that Director General, shall be responsible for the storage of photographs at the local authority.
(i)The storage of photographs at the local authority shall be carried out in a manner that ensures protection against unauthorised use of the information appearing in the photographs, its corruption, its exposure or its copying without lawful authorisation.
(j)A photograph produced pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall be admissible evidence in any legal proceeding in respect of the data referred to in subsection (d), provided that it has been proved that the conditions set out at the end of section 27a(a) are satisfied in respect of the photograph; the provisions under section 27a(b) shall apply for this purpose.
(k)A fine imposed by an employee of a local authority pursuant to this section, or imposed by a court as a result of the exercise of the local authority's powers under this section, shall be paid into the treasury of the local authority.
(l)The exercise of the local authority's powers pursuant to this section is subject to the approval of the plenum of the local authority's council.
(m)Nothing in the provisions of subsection (a) shall derogate from the local authority's powers under any law, to the extent that such powers have been granted.
(m1)A local authority shall allocate at least half of the revenues it derived from fines for the offence of unlawful use of a public transport lane as referred to in item 1 of the Eleventh Schedule, less its expenses incurred in enforcing that offence (in this section – the designated funds), to purposes of operating and maintaining public transport, public transport infrastructure and bicycle paths, reducing private vehicle use and encouraging shared transport, within its jurisdiction.
(m2)
(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (m1), the local authority may allocate, out of the designated funds, an amount not exceeding 15% of the revenues it derived from fines for an offence as referred to in that subsection less its expenses incurred in enforcing that offence, to purposes of safety in public transport, pedestrian safety and the paving of bicycle paths, within its jurisdiction;
(2)the allocation of funds pursuant to this subsection shall be carried out in coordination with the Authority as defined in the National Road Safety Authority Law, 5766-2006;
(3)where the local authority has allocated funds pursuant to this subsection, the amount it is required to allocate pursuant to subsection (m1) shall be reduced by the amount it has so allocated.
(m3)A local authority shall manage the designated funds in a separate bank account designated solely for this purpose.
(m4)
(1)Where the Minister finds, after the 7th of Tevet 5783 (31 December 2022), that a local authority is not enforcing the offence listed in item 1 of the Eleventh Schedule, the Minister may approach the local authority with a request that it commence enforcement of the offence as aforesaid within 18 months of the date of the approach; the local authority shall respond to the Minister's request within 180 days of the date of the approach;
(2)where the local authority has not responded to the Minister's approach as referred to in paragraph (1), or has notified the Minister that it does not wish to enforce the offence as referred to in that paragraph, the Minister may instruct inspectors authorised pursuant to section 61g to enforce the offence listed in item 1 of the Eleventh Schedule within the jurisdiction of that local authority; where the Minister has so instructed, the Minister shall publish a notice in the Reshumot (Official Gazette) regarding the transfer of enforcement powers to the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and regarding the date of commencement of enforcement by the Ministry;
(3)a local authority whose enforcement powers have been transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety as referred to in paragraph (2) may approach the Minister with a request to restore enforcement powers to it; where a local authority has so requested, the Minister shall instruct the inspectors referred to in paragraph (2) to cease enforcement and shall publish a notice in the Reshumot (Official Gazette) regarding the transfer of enforcement powers to the local authority and regarding the date of commencement of enforcement by the local authority.
(n)The Minister of Justice, with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe in Regulations provisions regarding the following matters:
(1)the manner of installing and operating the cameras;
(2)the manner of storing the photographs and the information documented in them in accordance with the provisions of subsections (g) and (i) and the duration of storage of the photographs;
(3)the manner of access to the photographs and the authorisations for their use, including the connection of the database to other databases at the local authority in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f), and the manner of producing the photographs and reports in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g);
(4)the manner of delivering the photographs to the owner of the vehicle documented in them.
(o)In this section –
"urban road" – as defined in the Traffic Regulations;
"public transport lane" – a part of a road on which travel is prohibited, pursuant to a sign, except for the following:
(1)a local train, bus or taxi;
(2)a vehicle making a turn in accordance with the marking appearing on the sign;
(3)another vehicle of types specified in the sign as aforesaid and under the conditions prescribed therein.
Liability of the Vehicle Owner§
27b.
(a)Where a traffic offence or a traffic violation has been committed in a vehicle, the owner of the vehicle shall be deemed to have been driving the vehicle at that time or to have stopped or parked it in a place where stopping or parking is prohibited under a legislative provision, as the case may be, unless the owner proved who drove the vehicle, stopped it or parked it as aforesaid, or proved to whom possession of the vehicle was transferred (hereinafter – the possessor), or it was proved that the vehicle was taken from the owner without the owner's knowledge and without the owner's consent.
(b)Where the owner of the vehicle proved to whom possession of the vehicle was transferred, the presumption referred to in subsection (a) shall apply to the possessor.
(c)Where the possessor proved that possession of the vehicle was transferred to another person, the presumption referred to in subsection (a) shall apply to that person.
Liability of an Owner of an Animal or of a Person Holding an Animal§
27b1.
(a)Where a traffic offence or a traffic violation involving an animal has been committed, or a road accident between a vehicle and an animal has occurred, the person registered as the owner of the animal in the registration centre shall be deemed to be the possessor of the animal, unless the owner proved that possession of the animal was transferred to another person.
(b)Where the owner of the animal proved to whom possession of the animal was transferred, the presumption referred to in subsection (a) shall apply to the possessor.
(c)Where the possessor proved that possession of the animal was transferred to another person, the presumption referred to in subsection (a) shall apply to that person.
(d)In this section –
"animal" – as defined in the Animal Diseases Ordinance, in respect of which a registration centre is maintained;
"possessor" of an animal – including a person who is leading it on a road or a person who has supervision over it;
"registration centre" – the registration centre established pursuant to the Animal Diseases Ordinance;
"Animal Diseases Ordinance" – the Animal Diseases Ordinance [New Version], 5745-1985.
Tachograph§
27c.
(a)A record made on a disc or in a computerised record in a tachograph installed in a vehicle as prescribed in Regulations and in the manner prescribed in Regulations, and operating in the manner prescribed therein, shall be admissible evidence in any legal proceeding in respect of –
(1)the working and rest hours of the person driving the vehicle;
(2)the speed of travel of the vehicle;
(3)the distance travelled by the vehicle;
provided that it has been proved that the record on the disc or in the computerised record submitted to the court or to the tribunal is the record made by the tachograph at the time of the commission of the offence or the violation, and that from the moment the disc or the computerised record was removed from the tachograph until it was submitted to the court or to the tribunal, no action was performed on it that could alter any of the particulars recorded while they were installed in the tachograph.
(b)The Minister of Justice shall prescribe the manner of holding, keeping and handling the computerised record or the discs recorded by the tachograph and the manner of their submission to the court or to the tribunal.
(c)Regulations under this section require the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset.
Electronic Record – Admissible Evidence§
27d.
(a)An electronic record submitted in the manner prescribed in Regulations under subsection (b) shall be admissible evidence in any legal proceeding in respect of the number of passengers in a vehicle.
(b)The Minister of Justice may prescribe in Regulations provisions regarding the following matters:
(1)supervision and control of the devices producing the electronic records, of the electronic records submitted as evidence, and of the manner of handling them;
(2)the manner of submission to the court or to the tribunal of electronic records produced in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c)For the purposes of this section –
(1)an output that is an electronic record shall not be regarded as a copy but as an original;
(2)"output" and "electronic record" – as defined in section 4i(a) of the Express Lanes Law.
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